Impossible Foods closes LA creative hub, ECD departs

Impossible Foods, the maker of the Impossible Burger, has shuttered its Los Angeles office, prompting its executive creative director, Sasha Markova, to leave the business.

The plant-based food brand located Markova and its in-house creative team to LA in early 2018. However, it recently made the decision to move the operation back to its headquarters in Redwood City, California, so its creatives could work more closely with its strategy, product development, marketing and communications teams.

The LA office closed on 31 March and all employees were given the chance to relocate to the HQ near San Francisco. A spokesperson for the company confirmed Markova had chosen not to make the move and had left the business.

Giselle Guerrero, who has worked for Impossible Foods since 2016, will now head up the creative team as executive creative director.

Markova told The Drum she plans to set up “something new with some amazing partners” in LA.

“It's still in advertising, but with a radical twist,” she said, adding she would divulge more about the shape of the offer after getting its first round of work to market.

The founding creative director of Mother LA, Markova joined the company in late 2017 as its first executive creative director after a stint freelancing in Silicon Valley. She is also the founder of the mysterious Gangs of Kosmos.

Impossible Foods recently made headlines after inking a deal with carnivorous chain Burger King. The meatless 'Impossible Whopper' is now available for purchase in select outlets across the US.